Oct 31, 2013

South America is a diverse continent with much to offer. Lately all eyes have been on PERU because it has a multitude of treasures; the Amazon River, Chan Chan, Huanchaco, Machu Picchu, Mancora, Puno, Uras Islands.....The Peruvians have some of the best cuisine in the world and eating meals in Peru is an experience in itself. The national drink "Pisco Sour" is something you just have to try. Check out my recipe below.Follow me on my next post as I share the treasures of Peru and provide recipes for delicious dishes like the famous "Ceviche."Coming soon: PERU (The country of adventures and treasures)

Pisco Sour3 ounces pisco1 ounce syrup (recipe below)1 ounce lime juice1 egg whiteAngostura BItters (2 dashes)Mix the pisco, syrup, lime juice and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake.Strain in a drinking glass and sprinkle two dashes of bitters on top.Pisco Sours are great to drink anytime of year!How to make the syrup:Boil 1 cup of water in a small pot. Dissolve 2 cups of sugar in the boiling water. Once the sugar completely dissolves and the syrup thickens remove from heat and cool the mixture. This mixture can be stored in glass bottles.

Oct 19, 2013

New Yorkers are very lucky people for many reasons 1) they have New York City 2) they have Niagara Falls 3) they have the Catskills and the Hudson Valley 4) they have Long Island with the famous Hampton's not to mention Fire Island National Seashore and Montauk 5) they have 6 million acres of unspoiled Adirondack Mountains 6) they have the Thousand Islands 7) they have awesome pizza......and they have The Finger Lakes!
When I first arrived in Ithaca to take a two week course at Cornell University I fell in love with this gorgeous town. In fact you'll see plenty of bumper stickers and t-shirts with the logo "Ithaca is Gorges" because the area is home to gorges. A gorge is a deep narrow passage with a rocky side and it really is gorgeous to look at. Living in this college town is a dream come true because:

1) Cornell University and Ithaca College are here.
2) It's a pedestrian friendly town with great biking too.
3) The restaurants are crowd pleasers like the famous Moosewood.
4) Part of beautiful Cayuga Lake is in Ithaca.
5) The "Ithaca Commons" is a good place to eat and shop.
6) Nearby "Buttermilk Falls State Park" is a hikers and swimmers paradise.
7) The area is surrounded by first rate wineries.
8) The cultural scene is stimulating.
9) The scenery really is G O R G E S (GORGEOUS)

From Ithaca you can circle the entire Finger Lakes region and visit:

Auburn, Canandaigua, Geneva, Hammondsport, Naples, Penn Yen, Seneca Falls, Skaneateles,Waterloo, and Watkins Glens.Spots to Visit:William H. Seward House, AuburnCanandaigua Lake Wineries, CanandaiguaGlenn H, Curtiss Musuem, HammondsportGreyton H. Taylor Wine Museum, HammondsportWaterloo Premium Outlets Mall, WaterlooWatkins Glenn State Park, Watkins GlenWegman's Supermarket in Auburn, Canandaigua, Geneva, or Ithaca
The eleven lakes of the Finger Lakes all have their own unique characteristics. You can rent a cabin for an entire summer or winter on one of the lakes. Bed and breakfasts dot the region as do campgrounds. If you fall in love with the area there are plenty of realtors who'll gladly sell you a home.

Oct 7, 2013

Day One:
Take a bus, subway, or taxi to the Bronx Zoo and enjoy one of the largest zoos in America. Afterwards visit the New York Botanical Garden and connect with horticulture. Head over to Wave Hill and relax on the grounds of the public gardens and cultural center. Craving pizza? Little Italy on Arthur Avenue is the answer. Giovanni makes delicious pizza that has been enjoyed by such famous folks as the New York governor and the late Mother Teresa.

Day Two:
Chances are that you've been so smitten by the old fashioned Italian neighborhood of "Little Italy" that you want to return. No worries there's plenty to do in the Belmont section of the Bronx known as Arthur Avenue's Little Italy. The Arthur Avenue Retail Market sells everything from hand rolled cigars to fresh pasta. Over at De Lillo's Pastry Shop you can fix your sugar cravings with marvelous desserts. (The cannoli's here are some of the best in all of New York City). Have a cup of cappuccino at Caffe Reggio "home to the original cappuccino." Spend a bit of time in the charming upper middle class neighborhood of Riverdale then head to City Island a 1.5 mile small island surrounded by water that feels like a piece of New England (think Maine or Rhode Island). Have a seafood meal at The Original Club Shanty before heading to Yankee Stadium to watch the New York Yankees play some serious baseball.

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The Upper West Side (UWS) for short, is a terrific neighborhood. I arrived her one January day to audition for the American Musical & Dramatic Academy all the way from Michigan. I didn't really plan on staying for long but as luck turns out I got accepted into the American Musical & Dramatic Academy and my first apartment was on the Upper West Side. Since than I've lived in quite a few neighborhoods but the Upper West Side is where my heart will always belong.___________________________________________________________________________

With Central Park on one side and Riverside Park on the other, the Upper West Side is one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Manhattan. It's not unusual to see a celebrity dining in one of the area restaurants or to hear the sounds of "Juilliard"students displaying their musical talents from their apartment. This terrific neighborhood has everything from cozy cafes to the famous Metropolitan Opera.

A D R I A N N A 'S LIST OF THINGS TO DO ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE:

Get a ticket for a taping of "The Chew" "Live with Kelly & MIchael" or "The View" filmed at ABC Television, go on a shopping spree at "Shops at Columbus Circle."

Spend a day with the family at the "American Museum of Natural History" and afterwards see a space show at Hayden Planetarium."
Take a tour of the "Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts" famous for the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Theater, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, School of American Ballet, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Juilliard School.

Devote an hour or two at the New York Public Library for Performing Arts.
Walk down Central Park West and marvel at all the expensive real estate. "The Dakota" which opened in 1884 is a chateau style residence building with lots of celebrity residents.

Hit the American Folk Art Museum and The Cloisters Museum. If you have kids let them have fun at the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
Enjoy the outdoors at Riverside Park a waterfront public park on the Hudson River. There's the Hudson River Greenway for bicycling and jogging, basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields, volleyball courts and free use of kayaks. The Eleanor Roosevelt Monument and Grant's Tomb are both inside Riverside Park.
2121 Broadway (STEPS) is where to watch the best dance steps by dancers taking a class.
Stroll down Amsterdam, Broadway, and Columbus Avenue all great for bars, restaurants, and shopping.

Stock up on gourmet food at Fairway 2127 Broadway and Zabars 2245 Broadway. This is where New Yorker's love to shop.

Have dessert and coffee at a European cafe called Cafe Lalo 201 West 83rd Street. Peer through the adorable French windows.

Order a hot dog and papaya juice at Gray's Papaya 2090 Broadway. They're open 24/7.

Visit the GreenFlea Market at 100 West 77th Street and observe what the vendors are selling.

Look at all the lovely brownstones that are scattered throughout the Upper West Side. See if there's a "For Rent" sign in any of the windows.

The Upper West Side has comedy clubs, jazz clubs, and plenty of bars and restaurants to make your nightlife stimulating.

Ayurveda Cafe: 706 Amsterdam has a Zen-like atmosphere with outstanding Indian vegetarian food.Barney Greengrass: 541 Amsterdam is a popular Jewish deli.Candle Cafe: 24 Broadway has a "vegan" menu.Dovetail: 103 Wes 77th Street is known for contemporary American dishes.Gennaro: 665 Amsterdam has some of the best Italian food in Manhattan.Hunan Park: 721 Columbus has the best Chinese food.Per Se: 10 Columbus Avenue is the place to eat first class French cuisine.Picholine: 35 West 64th Street serves tasty French dishes.PorterHouse: 10 Columbus Circle is one of many great New York steakhouses.Sushi Yasaka: Japanese f251 West 72nd Street has tastyood.Telepan: 72 West 69th Street is the place to indulge in marvelous contemporary American cuisine.

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About Me

Join me on my blog as I share amazing travel experiences and photographs, offer advice, share recipes and give recommendations on one country at a time. I have worked in Austria, Australia, Ireland, Norway and Ukraine. I became fascinated with travel while working as a concierge for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in New York City and meeting people from around the world.